Protecting Against the Zika Virus in Waukesha County, Wisconsin & Northern Illinois

Should You Be Fearful of The Zika Virus in Waukesha County?

Well, no. The mosquitoes that will soon be buzzing Waukesha County, don't harbor the Zika virus. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not a single person has contracted the virus from a mosquito in the contiguous United States.

Foreign countries are different. Zika virus is a danger if you travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and some South American countries. Tropical mosquitoes in these areas carry the virus. More than 350 "travel-related" Zika cases have been reported in the United States, where people returned from a foreign country after being infected.

The glaring threat of Zika virus is its connection to severe birth defects, including brain damage. Pregnant women, or those planning to become pregnant, should be especially cautious about foreign travel.

Otherwise, Zika virus disease isn't fatal. It does have some undesirable symptoms – fever, rash and joint pain. So, if Zika comes up in conversation this summer, rest easy. Like malaria and dengue fever, it's carried by tropical mosquitoes that don't frequent Waukesha County, southeastern Wisconsin or northern Illinois.

Not Out of the Woods Entirely

Just like mosquitoes love woods, though, we aren't out of the woods regarding mosquito-transmitted illness. West Nile virus, which appeared in the U.S. about 15 years ago, is a threat. In the Waukesha County area, Illinois had 72 cases reported in 2015. Wisconsin had nine.

Waukesha County local mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus. Its danger to people varies. In the vast majority of cases, an infected person has no symptoms.

About one in five infected people develops fever and other symptoms: headache, body pain, vomiting and rash. Most recover in full.

Yet, a sliver of those infected develop serious neurologic illness, and can even die. People over sixty are at greatest risk. With Waukesha County summer activities pending – pool parties, family gatherings, the 4th of July and others – it's worth considering how to shield yourself and others from the West Nile virus.

Protecting against mosquitoes, period, reduces the chance of encountering one (or more) harboring West Nile. A mosquito repellent application by The Mosquito Guy keeps mosquitoes away for thirty days. We travel to Waukesha County and throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.